Monday, May 2, 2011

THE TWELVE; A PEEK INSIDE

kee@fswmag.com

MAXIS AND MIFA MAXIMISES MALAYSIAN MATERIAL MARKET!

Presenting THE TWELVE!Even the logo and name is creative as the word 'twelve' also artfully incorporates the number 12!Check out www.fashionista.my in The TwelveThe entrance of The TwelveHere we are, The 12The exterior decor is unusual and eye-catchingA seating area is thoughtfully placed for husbands and boyfriends to waitNazlan Muhid reading GLAM magazine with Kavita on cover and mifa paper.Even a boy needs a respite as mum and dad check out Key Ng's space.

Once again, mifa with the unwavering and crystal clear (like its telephony line) support of MAXIS, Malaysia's leading mobile phone service provider, has upped the ante with the launch of The Twelve.

The Twelve is a large, 2,600 sq ft boutique on the ground floor of Fahrenheit 88 which is the younger and hipper version of Pavilion across the road. Brimming with all things fashionable, The Twelve is the brick and mortar version of the portal www.fashionista.my which was launched last November 2010 by mifa in collaboration with Maxis.

www.fashionista.my is the dream come true for both designer the seller and trade buyer. With one stroke, www.fashionista.my connects both parties so designers can sell his garments and accessories while discerning buyers from across the globe can pick and choose the best of Malaysian designers.Key Ng; this blouse is so cool and multi-functional! Get it now!JKhan is the hot new label from Kota Kinabalu!This purple outfit comes from The Land Below the Wind!A shoe-nista's haven by Benson ChenShoes galore by Benson ChenSasha Rowena bags and leather goodsDream bags by Sasha RowenaI like both pink cut-out bag and skull and crossbone bag!The Wayang Kulit puppet motifs bring a hint of Kelantan, my home stateShinju Pearls; the jewel of the seaYou can sit on the egg chairs before browsing Radzuan Radziwill's creationsThis shirt is as couture as Roberto Cavalli but costs a mere RM 325 only!The matching gown is worthy of Jennifer LopezRadzuan Radziwill's dresses are comfy and stylish to the maxI will buy the outfit just for the name alone! Fashion Geek is so uber-cool!The YODA (Young Official Designers Association) space,Drama dress by YamZYODA is showing and selling the works of 5 designers

The Twelve @Fahrenheit 88 was the most anticipated launch of the year when it flung its portals open on 22 April 2011. As ts name implies, The Twelve consists of 12 of Malaysia's most happening designers. Most are up and coming and relatively unknown who could not afford a standalone boutique. However, Key Ng and Tom Abang Saufi are famous, established players wh have been in the industry for over two decades and have long gone into export. Radzuan Radziwill is Malaysia's favourite wedding specialist whose gowns can easily cost RM 15,000 but mercifully his apparel at The Twelve hover nervously from RM 100 to Rm 500. Datin Jah the creative designer of JKhan is also the only designer from Sabah and the only Sabahan to have gone regional and soon international. Her newly launched handbags are a sensational success to the extent she might open a boutique in la belle Paris!

Not all designers are involved in fashion per se. Benson Chen concocts the most delightful and sexy shoes fit for Kate Middleton while Christina Toh of Shinju Pearls offer charming pearl jewellery that are handmade and highly original. uREKA is an eclectic label offering all sorts of fun, funky and fabulous stuff you never knew you needed till you see them. From dolls to notepads to bags and paintings to decorative items that make a house a home.The name says John Paris but he could be from my hometown Kota BaruThe simple cuts of Zulfadli NasirThe Art Corner. The paintings may turn out to be a future Ibrahim Hussein who knows.Notice each chair is different? Everything is one of a kind here!Maxis has installed a free kiosk for www.fashionista.myNifty table waresThe handmade dolls are so cute in a gruesome way!Recycled goods and brand new plantAt uREKA, all is recyclable and ecologically friendlyEven the teddies are of recycled material.

Fahrenheit 88 is the ideal venue for The Twelve as both are uber-cool and this multi-brand concept store is bound to be the Next Big Thing in KL, pandering to both locals and tourists unwilling to pay thousands of ringgit for a dress from a designer they have never heard of back home in New York, Manchester or Tokyo. The Twelve is thus Malaysia's hotbed of creative clothing at affordable prices meant to place KL as a fashion hotspot.

The Twelve is a fashion-quake waiting to happen! Many Malaysians are keen to wear and support local designers but are fazed at the prospect of scouting for them in derelict warehouses or weekend markets. And sadly, not all talented designers have the dough to bake up a boutique in some salubrious, air conditioned mall. Now all parties have converged in a spacious, easily navigable showroom. In fact, browsing at The Twelve is like visiting a dozen boutiques all at once!

Maxis has thoughtfully installed a kiosk for www.fashionista.my at the back of the shop to enable shoppers, media, designers and buyers to register and check out what is hip and happening in the Malaysian fashion universe!

And can you believe there is complimentary coffee plus seats and table to rest your weary legs. And not just any second class coffee but De'Longhi which has provided the advanced coffeemaking machine!These are no Barbie dolls but very interestinguREKA is from the word 'eureka' which means 'I found it'! And you HAVE found it.I love all these gizmos from Fashion Geek!Cuter and hotter than the ones by Prada!I have put my photo inside this one already!These two are also on my wish listFrom Ten to ZeroRather gothic and dramaticYou can't go wrong hereTake your pick, each is uniqueI like this necklet which is sold separately by Tom Abang Saufi's TAS ImanAnother winner by Tom Abang Saufi

I have already told all my friends to pick up presents for their overseas friends when they go abroad for holidays. A blouse or dress or one of Fashion Geek's wonderfully weird photo frames takes no space but packs a whallop for giver and receiver.